Rabies

Thanks to vaccinations, rabies in this country is rare in dogs and cats. Among wild animals, however, the deadly virus is still very much at large. The raccoon is perhaps the worst culprit. In one year in New York, for example, raccoons accounted for 81 percent of all rabies cases. But rabies is also found in skunks, foxes, bats and other carnivores. Don't make friends with any wild animal, vets say. Suspect the worst if a wild critter allows you to get close without running away. This isn't natural behavior and could be a sign that it's infected.